First responder dispatch system and methods of operation thereof

ABSTRACT

A first responder dispatch system is disclosed comprising a sensing wearable configured to be worn by a first responder. The sensing wearable can comprise a wrist-worn electronic device. The sensing wearable can comprise a plurality of biometric sensors configured to measure a plurality of vital signs of the first responder. The system can comprise a server programmed to receive biometric data concerning a plurality of vital signs of the first responder measured by the sensing wearable. The server can also transmit alerts to a plurality of dispatch client devices over a plurality of secured real-time bidirectional connections concerning a status of the first responder. At least one dispatch client device can transmit a response to the server and the server can, in turn, transmit additional biometric data concerning the first responder to the dispatch client device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/946,833, filed on Apr. 6, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,105,108), thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to the field of first respondercommunication systems, more specifically, to a first responder dispatchsystem and methods of operation thereof.

BACKGROUND

Traditional first responder dispatch systems (e.g., police, fire, andemergency medical services (EMS) dispatch systems) often rely on the useof radio systems to keep first responders in crucial contact withdispatchers. Such dispatchers often operate out of a stationcommunication center or public-safety answering point (PSAP) and areresponsible for directing first responders to the site of distress callsor emergency situations. The most common radio systems used bydispatchers and first responders are two-way land mobile radio systems(LMRS) that operate using radio frequency (RF) bands in the very highfrequency (VHF) RF range and the ultra-high frequency (UHF) RF range.

As shown in FIG. 1 , such traditional first responder dispatch systemsoften require the first responder to carry a bulky handheld transceiverconnected to a shoulder or lapel mic by a coiled audio cord. When onduty, the first responder is often required to initiate contact with thedispatcher using such audio communications equipment in order to requestbackup or additional support or to alert the dispatcher to the status offirst responder(s) at the scene of a crime, accident, fire, or otheremergency situation. Dispatch systems that rely on such equipment oftenoperate on the assumption that the first responder has access to his orher handheld or vehicular radios at all times while on duty.Unfortunately, for first responders who are at the scene of a crime,accident, or fire, this is often not the case. For example, a firstresponder may be inadvertently separated from his or her handheldtransceiver or mic when undertaking certain movements or motions at thescene (e.g., a law enforcement officer in active pursuit of a suspect).Also, for example, a first responder may be unable to physically operatehis or her radio equipment if the first responder is the victim of anassault by an assailant or has suffered a catastrophic injury while onduty. In some situations, the handheld transceiver, mic, and,especially, the audio cord may act as an impediment to the firstresponder when the first responder is performing his or her duties(e.g., the audio cord can become tangled or, worse yet, be used tostrangle or drag down a law enforcement officer). Moreover, dispatchersor other emergency communication personnel may not fully comprehend ormake out incoming distress calls made by first responders in highlydemanding or dangerous situations. Additionally, radio transmissionsbetween a first responder and a dispatcher can be susceptible toscanning or eavesdropping, which can subject the first responder tofurther harm.

Furthermore, traditional first responder dispatch systems oftenbroadcast distress calls to multiple dispatchers simultaneously. Thiscan create confusion as to which dispatcher is currently devoting theirattention to which call and may lead to needless duplication of effortsand wasted resources. In addition, since most public safety departmentsassign a small number of dispatchers or emergency communicationspecialists to a large number of on-duty first responders, it iscritical that the attention and time of each of the dispatchers areallocated efficiently and effectively. Moreover, when a specific firstresponder is identified as being in trouble or requiring assistance, thedispatcher must be able to quickly and accurately convey informationconcerning the current location and physical condition of that firstresponder to other responders en route.

Therefore, an improved first responder dispatch system is needed whichaddresses challenges faced by traditional first responder dispatchsystems. In addition, such a solution should provide added securitybenefits and optimize the time and efforts of dispatchers on duty.Moreover, such a solution should be reliable and provide the mosteffective support for first responders in need.

SUMMARY

An improved first responder dispatch system is disclosed comprising awrist-worn electronic device configured to be worn about a wrist of afirst responder. The wrist-worn electronic device can comprise aprocessor, a memory, a wireless communication unit configured towirelessly communicate with a first responder client device in proximityto the first responder, and a plurality of biometric sensors coupled tothe wrist-worn electronic device and configured to measure a pluralityof vital signs of the first responder.

The system can also comprise a server comprising a server processor, aserver memory, and a server communication unit configured to communicatewith the first responder client device and a plurality of dispatchclient devices. The server processor can be programmed to executeinstructions to receive a vital sign reporting string from the firstresponder client device over a secured real-time bidirectionalconnection. The vital sign reporting string can comprise vital sign datareflecting an abnormal vital sign of the first responder. The abnormalvital sign can be measured by the plurality of biometric sensors. Theserver can also transmit an alert string generated by the serverprocessor to each of the plurality of dispatch client devices over aplurality of secured real-time bidirectional connections. An alert userinterface (UI) window can be configured to be generated on a display ofa dispatch client device in response to the dispatch client devicereceiving the alert string.

The server can also receive a dispatch response string from one of theplurality of dispatch client devices in response to a dispatch userinput applied to the alert UI window. The dispatch response string canbe received over one of the plurality of secured real-time bidirectionalconnections. The dispatch client device transmitting the dispatchresponse string can be designated as a responding dispatch clientdevice. The server can transmit a vital sign frequency change stringgenerated by the server processor to the first responder client deviceover the secured real-time bidirectional connection in order to increasea frequency of the vital sign reporting strings transmitted by the firstresponder client device to the server. The server can also transmit ahistorical vital sign string generated by the server processor and aplurality of vital sign reporting strings of increased frequency to theresponding dispatch client device over the secured real-timebidirectional connection.

In some embodiments, at least one of the secured real-time bidirectionalconnections is opened and maintained using a real-time transportframework supporting a WebSocket communication protocol. Morespecifically, the real-time transport framework can be a Socket.IOJavaScript framework.

In certain embodiments, the wrist-worn electronic device is in the formof a watch. In other embodiments, the wrist-worn electronic device is inthe form of a fitness tracker. In yet additional embodiments, thewrist-worn electronic device is in the form of a bracelet.

In some embodiments, the plurality of biometric sensors of thewrist-worn electronic device can comprise at least one of a heart ratesensor configured to measure a heart rate of the first responder, amotion sensor configured to detect a sudden motion undertaken by thefirst responder, a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor configured tomeasure a moisture level of the skin of the first responder, and atemperature sensor to measure a skin temperature of the first responder.The vital sign reporting string can comprise values corresponding to theheart rate, motion, skin moisture level, and skin temperature of thefirst responder.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the vital sign reportingstrings, the alert strings, the dispatch response string, the vital signfrequency string, and the historical vital sign string can be aserialized JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) string.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the first responder client device cancomprise a GPS locational unit configured to transmit GPS coordinatedata to the server. In these and other embodiment, the server processorcan be programmed to execute instructions to concatenate the GPScoordinate data to at least one of the vital sign reporting strings andthe historical vital sign string and transmit at least one of the vitalsign reporting strings and the historical vital sign string comprisingthe GPS coordinate data to the responding dispatch client device.

Furthermore, a client processor of the responding dispatch client devicecan be programmed to execute instructions to render a dispatch consoleUI using a platform-independent component-based UI framework comprisinga plurality of panels. The dispatch client device can also render a mappanel as one of the plurality of panels using the GPS coordinate datareceived through at least one of the vital sign reporting strings andthe historical vital sign string, and render a dynamic chart panel usingthe vital sign data received from the historical vital sign string andthe vital sign reporting strings of increased frequency. The dynamicchart panel can be rendered using a traced-based UI charting framework.More specifically, the vital sign data reflecting the heart rate, theskin moisture level, and the skin temperature of the first responder canbe rendered as separate real-time traces on the dynamic chart panel.

A computer-implemented method for providing dispatch support to firstresponders is also disclosed comprising the steps of measuring, using aplurality of biometric sensors coupled to a wrist-worn electronic deviceworn about a wrist of the first responder, a plurality of vital signs ofthe first responder. The wrist-worn electronic device can comprise aprocessor, a memory, and a wireless communication unit configured towirelessly communicate with a first responder client device in proximityto the first responder. The method can comprise receiving, at the servercomprising a server processor, a vital sign reporting string from thefirst responder client device over a secured real-time bidirectionalconnection, wherein the vital sign reporting string can comprise vitalsign data reflecting an abnormal vital sign of the first responder, andwherein the abnormal vital sign is measured by the plurality ofbiometric sensors.

The method can also comprise transmitting an alert string generated bythe server processor to each of a plurality of dispatch client devicesover a plurality of secured real-time bidirectional connections. Analert user interface (UI) window can be configured to be generated on adisplay of a dispatch client device in response to the dispatch clientdevice receiving the alert string. The method can further comprisereceiving, at the server, a dispatch response string from one of theplurality of dispatch client devices in response to a dispatch userinput applied to the alert UI window, wherein the dispatch responsestring is received over one of the plurality of secured real-timebidirectional connections, and wherein the dispatch client devicetransmitting the dispatch response string is designated as a respondingdispatch client device.

The method can also comprise transmitting a vital sign frequency changestring generated by the server processor over the secured real-timebidirectional connection to the first responder client device in orderto increase a frequency of the vital sign reporting strings transmittedby the first responder client device to the server and transmitting ahistorical vital sign string generated by the server processor and aplurality of vital sign reporting strings of increased frequency to theresponding dispatch client device over the secured real-timebidirectional connection.

The method can further comprise opening and maintaining at least one ofthe secured real-time bidirectional connections using a real-timetransport framework supporting a WebSocket communication protocol. Thereal-time transport framework can be a Socket.IO JavaScript framework.

The method can further comprise receiving, at the server, GPS coordinatedata from a GPS locational unit of the first responder client device andconcatenating, using the server processor, the GPS coordinate data to atleast one of the vital sign reporting strings and the historical vitalsign string. The method can further comprise transmitting the vital signreporting strings and the historical vital sign string generated by theserver processor to the responding dispatch client device. At least oneof the vital sign reporting strings and the historical vital sign stringcan comprise GPS coordinate data. The method can further compriserendering, using a client processor of the responding dispatch clientdevice, a dispatch console UI using a platform-independentcomponent-based UI framework comprising a plurality of panels. Themethod can also comprise rendering, using the client processor of theresponding dispatch client device, a map panel as one of the pluralityof panels using the GPS coordinate data received through at least one ofthe vital sign reporting strings and the historical vital sign stringand rendering, using the client processor of the responding dispatchclient device, a dynamic chart panel using the vital sign data receivedfrom the historical vital sign string and the vital sign reportingstrings of increased frequency. The dynamic chart panel can be renderedusing a traced-based UI charting framework. In some embodiments, thevital sign data reflecting the heart rate, the skin moisture level, andthe skin temperature of the first responder can be rendered as separatereal-time traces on the dynamic chart panel.

A non-transitory readable medium comprising computer-executableinstructions stored thereon is also disclosed. The computer-executableinstructions can instruct one or more processors to receive a vital signreporting string at a server from a first responder client device over asecured real-time bidirectional connection. The vital sign reportingstring can comprise vital sign data reflecting an abnormal vital sign ofthe first responder. The abnormal vital sign can be measured by aplurality of biometric sensors coupled to a wrist-worn electronic deviceconfigured to be worn about a wrist of a first responder. Thecomputer-executable instructions can also instruct one or moreprocessors to transmit an alert string from the server to each of aplurality of dispatch client devices over each of a plurality of securedreal-time bidirectional connections. An alert UI window can beconfigured to be generated on a display of each of the dispatch clientdevices in response to the dispatch client device receiving the alertstring.

The computer-executable instructions can further instruct one or moreprocessors to receive at the server a dispatch response string from oneof the plurality of dispatch client devices in response to a dispatchuser input applied to the alert UI window. The dispatch response stringcan be received over one of the plurality of secured real-timebidirectional connections. The dispatch client device transmitting thedispatch response string can be designated as a responding dispatchclient device.

The computer-executable instructions can also instruct one or moreprocessors to transmit a vital sign frequency change string generated bythe server over the secured real-time bidirectional connection to thefirst responder client device in order to increase a frequency of thevital sign reporting strings transmitted by the first responder clientdevice to the server and transmit a historical vital sign stringgenerated by the server and a plurality of vital sign reporting stringsof increased frequency to the responding dispatch client device over thesecured real-time bidirectional connection.

The non-transitory readable medium can also comprise computer-executableinstructions instructing the one or more processors to open and maintainat least one of the secured real-time bidirectional connections using areal-time transport framework supporting a WebSocket communicationprotocol. In some embodiments, the real-time transport framework can bea Socket.IO JavaScript framework.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a traditional first responder dispatch system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an improved first responder dispatchsystem.

FIG. 3A illustrates an embodiment of a server of the improved firstresponder dispatch system.

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of a client device (either a firstresponder client device or a dispatch client device) of the improvedfirst responder dispatch system.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a wrist-worn electronic device foruse with the improved first responder dispatch system.

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a power-generatinggarment of the improved first responder dispatch system.

FIG. 5B illustrates a back view of an embodiment of the power-generatinggarment of the improved first responder dispatch system.

FIG. 6A illustrates a close-up view of an embodiment of a conductivefabric of the power-generating garment.

FIG. 6B illustrates a close-up view of an embodiment of apower-generating fabric portion of the power-generating garment.

FIG. 6C illustrates a close-up view of another embodiment of apower-generating fabric portion of the power-generating garment.

FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment of a log-in graphical user interface(GUI) of a mobile application running on the first responder clientdevice.

FIG. 7B illustrates an embodiment of a responder information input GUIof the mobile application running on the first responder client device.

FIG. 7C illustrates an embodiment of an instance of a responderbiometric display GUI of the mobile application running on the firstresponder client device prior to initialization by the user.

FIG. 7D illustrates an embodiment of another instance of the responderbiometric display GUI after initialization by the user.

FIG. 7E illustrates an embodiment of an inquiry user interface (UI)window overlaid on the responder biometric display GUI inquiring as to astatus of the first responder.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an alert UI window overlaid on adispatch console UI of a client application running on a dispatch clientdevice.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the dispatch console UI populatedwith data and graphics concerning a location and vital signs of thefirst responder.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a computer-implemented method fordispatching first responders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an improved first responder dispatchsystem 200. The first responder dispatch system 200 can comprise one ormore servers 202, a plurality of first responder client devices 204, aplurality of dispatch client devices 206, and one or more sensingwearables 208 worn by each of a plurality of first responders under theoversight of the first responder dispatch system 200.

In some embodiments, the server 202 can be communicatively coupled to orcan communicate with the plurality of first responder client devices 204and the plurality of dispatch client devices 206 over a network 210. Inthese and other embodiments, the sensing wearable 208 can becommunicatively coupled to or can communicate with the first responderclient device 204 over a short-range communication network such as awireless personal area network (WPAN) 212 (e.g., Bluetooth™, Bluetooth™Low Energy (BLE), near-field communication (NFC), or a combinationthereof).

In other embodiments, the server 202 can be communicatively coupled toor can communicate with the sensing wearable 208 over the network 210without having to go through the first responder client device 204. Inthese embodiments, the server 202 can still be communicatively coupledto or can communicate with the plurality of dispatch client devices 206.In additional embodiments, the server 202 can be communicatively coupledto or can communicate with both the sensing wearable 208 and the firstresponder client device 204 so that each device acts as a back-up forthe other in case the server 202 loses connection with any such device.

In some embodiments, the network 210 can comprise or refer to one ormore wide area networks (WANs) such as the Internet or other smallerWANs, wireless local area networks (WLANs), local area networks (LANs),wireless personal area networks (WPANs), system-area networks (SANs),metropolitan area networks (MANs), campus area networks (CANs),enterprise private networks (EPNs), virtual private networks (VPNs),multi-hop networks, or a combination thereof. The server 202, theplurality of first responder client devices 204, and the plurality ofdispatch client devices 206 can connect to the network 208 using anynumber of wired connections (e.g., Ethernet, fiber optic cables, etc.),wireless connections established using a wireless communication protocolor standard such as a 3G wireless communication standard, a 4G wirelesscommunication standard, a 5G wireless communication standard, along-term evolution (LTE) wireless communication standard, a Bluetooth™(IEEE 802.15.1) or Bluetooth™ Lower Energy (BLE) short-rangecommunication protocol, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) (IEEE 802.11)commination protocol, an ultra-wideband (UWB) (IEEE 802.15.3)communication protocol, a ZigBee™ (IEEE 802.15.4) communicationprotocol, or a combination thereof.

The server 202 can comprise or refer to one or more centralized orstand-alone servers, de-centralized servers, or a combination thereof.For example, the server 202 can comprise or refer to a cloud computingresource, a virtualized computing resource, a part of a server farm, aserver cluster, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, theserver 202 can take the form of a rack-mounted server, a blade server, amainframe, a dedicated desktop or laptop computer, a portion thereof,one or more processors or processors cores therein, or a combinationthereof.

In some embodiments, the first responder client device 204 can be orrefer to a portable computing device carried by or in a vicinity (e.g.,within short-range communication range) of a first responder on duty.For example, the first responder client device 204 can comprise or be asmartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a combinationthereof. As a more specific example, the first responder client device204 can be a smartphone carried in a pocket of the first responder. Inother example embodiments, the first responder client device 204 canrefer to a portable computing device attached to a harness or belt wornby the first responder. The components of the first responder clientdevice 204 will be discussed in more detail in the following sections.

In some embodiments, the dispatch client device 206 can be or refer to aportable or non-portable computing device operated by a dispatcherlocated within a station or office. For example, the dispatcher can be apolice department dispatcher, a fire department dispatcher, an emergencymedical services dispatcher, a PSAP dispatcher, or a combinationthereof. The dispatch client device 206 can comprise or be a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, or a combinationthereof. In further embodiments, the dispatch client device 206 cancomprise or be a smartphone carried by or in a vicinity of thedispatcher.

In other embodiments, the dispatch client device 206 can also refer toor be a portable computing device carried by or in a vicinity of a firstresponder on duty. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the dispatch clientdevice 206 can also refer to or be an in-dash computer or other type ofvehicle-mounted computer installed within a vehicle or transport of thefirst responder (e.g., a police car, a fire engine, or ambulance). Inthis sense, any computing device capable of communicating with theserver 202 can take on the role of a dispatch client device 206. Oneadvantage of the improved first responder dispatch system 200 disclosedherein is the ability to “open up” the dispatch system to othercomputing devices besides those residing within a first responderstation or office. In essence, the improved first responder dispatchsystem 200 allows all computing devices capable of communicating withthe server 202 to act as a dispatch client device 206 and all personneloperating such devices to act as a dispatcher. By doing so, the firstresponder dispatch system 200 can cut down on response times andcommunication lag-times, thereby ensuring that a first responder in needof assistance or support receives such assistance or support in theshortest time possible.

As a more specific example, the server 202 can receive data from a firstresponder client device 204 comprising an abnormal vital sign measuredby a sensing wearable 208 worn by a police officer on duty. In thisexample, the server 202 can, in turn, transmit an alert requestingassistance for the police officer exhibiting the abnormal vital sign toa plurality of dispatch client devices 206 including a laptop or in-dashcomputer within the patrol car of a second police officer nearby. Thesecond police officer can also receive locational data concerning acurrent location of the police officer in need. Using the locationaldata, the second police officer can proceed to assist the police officerexhibiting the abnormal vital sign prior to being instructed by adispatcher over a traditional radio-based dispatch system.

As will be discussed in more detail in the following sections, the firstresponder dispatch system 200 can offer previously unseen advantagesover traditional radio-based dispatch systems and other web-based alertsystems by utilizing certain communication protocols and frameworkspreviously unused in the field of first responder dispatch systems.Moreover, the first responder dispatch system 200 can offer previouslyunseen advantages over traditional radio-based dispatch systems andother web-based alert systems by utilizing certain sensors and materialspreviously unused in the law enforcement or emergency services field.

The sensing wearable 208 can be a wrist-worn electronic device 214, apower-generating garment 216, or a combination thereof (i.e., the firstresponder can wear both the wrist-worn electronic device 214 and thepower-generating garment 216). For example, the wrist-worn electronicdevice 214 can be a smartwatch configured to wirelessly communicate witha first responder client device 204 over the WPAN 212 (e.g., Bluetooth™,BLE, NFC, etc.). Alternatively, the sensing wearable 208 can be asmart-shirt, smart-jacket, or smart-uniform configured to wirelesslycommunicate with a first responder client device 204 over the WPAN 212.In additional embodiments not shown in FIG. 2 , the sensing wearable 208(e.g., the wrist-worn electronic device 214, the power-generatinggarment 216, or a combination thereof) can wirelessly communicatedirectly with the server 202 over the network 210 (e.g., over a 3G, 4G,or 5G cellular network).

Although FIG. 2 depicts one instance of the first responder clientdevice 204 and four instances of the dispatch client device 206, it iscontemplated by this disclosure that the presently-disclosed firstresponder dispatch system 200 can support numerous first responderclient devices 204 and numerous dispatch client devices 206. The sensingwearable 208, including the wrist-worn electronic device 214 and thepower-generating garment 216, will be discussed in more detail in thefollowing sections.

In some embodiments, the server 202 can communicate with the pluralityof first responder client devices 204 and the plurality of dispatchclient devices 206 over a plurality of real-time bidirectionalconnections 218. In some embodiments, the real-time bidirectionalconnections 218 can be established using the WebSocket communicationprotocol. In other embodiments, at least one of the real-timebidirectional connections 218 can be established using the WebSocketcommunication protocol. The WebSocket communication protocol can be acommunication protocol promulgated by the Internet Engineering TaskForce (IETF) in the IETF's Request for Comment 6455 (RFC 6455). Whenestablished using the WebSocket communication protocol, the real-timebidirectional connection 218 can be a persistent Transmission ControlProtocol (TCP) connection between the server 202 and a client device(e.g., any of the first responder client devices 204 and the dispatchclient devices 206) that either the client device or the server 202 canutilize to initiate data transmission (as opposed to a HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTP) request and respond schema which requires aclient device to always request data transmissions from a server). Thereal-time bidirectional connection 218 can also be considered afull-duplex connection.

In these and other embodiments, at least one of the real-timebidirectional connections 218 can be opened and maintained using areal-time transport framework 220 supporting both the WebSocketcommunication protocol and at least one failover communication protocol(e.g., HTTP long polling, Asynchronous JavaScript+XML (AJAX) longpolling, etc.) in the case that a client device does not support theWebSocket communication protocol. In some embodiments, the real-timetransport framework 220 can be a Socket.IO JavaScript framework orlibrary. The Socket.IO JavaScript framework can comprise two components:a client-side library that runs in the browser and a server-side libraryfor servers operating in a Node.js runtime environment.

The Socket.IO JavaScript framework can determine which real-timecommunication protocol or method is best suited for each client device(e.g., which real-time communication protocol is best suited for each ofthe plurality of first responder client devices 204 or which real-timecommunication protocol is best suited for each of the plurality ofdispatch client devices 206). More specifically, if a browser of aclient device does not support the WebSocket communication protocol,certain modules or instructions in the library will instruct the clientdevice to use alternative communication protocols or methods such asHTTP long polling, AJAX long polling, Adobe™ Flash Socket, or acombination thereof. One benefit of opening and maintaining thereal-time bidirectional connections 218 using the Socket.IO JavaScriptframework is the ability to default to such alternative communicationmethods if the client device (either the first responder client device204 or the dispatch client device 206) does not support the WebSocketcommunication protocol. This ensures that older legacy client devices orclient devices running legacy browser versions can take advantage of thefunctionalities of the improved first responder dispatch system 200despite not being able to take advantage of the WebSocket communicationprotocol.

In other embodiments, the real-time transport framework 220 can be aSockJS framework or a μWebSockets framework. In other alternativeembodiments, the real-time transport framework 220 can be a JettyWebSocket framework (e.g., for servers running Java®), a pywebsocketframework (e.g., for servers running Python™), an EventMachine framework(e.g., for servers running Ruby™), or a libwebsockets framework (e.g.,for servers running C++).

The real-time bidirectional connections 218 can be secured using anencryption protocol 222 such as a secure sockets layer (SSL) protocol, atransport layer security (TLS) protocol, or a combination thereof. Forexample, the real-time bidirectional connection 218 can be establishedas a WebSocket secure connection (wss://) when secured using SSL.Additionally, data or packets transmitted over the secured real-timebidirectional connection 218 can be encrypted using a Secure HashAlgorithm (SHA) or another suitable encryption algorithm. For example,data or packets can be encrypted using a SHA-256 hash function, aSHA-512 hash function, or a SHA-2 hash function. Data or packetstransmitted over the secured real-time bidirectional connection 218 canalso be encrypted using an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cipher.

One or more server processors 300 of the server 202 can be programmed toexecute instructions stored in a server memory 304 (see FIG. 3A) tooperate the first responder dispatch system 200. In some embodiments,the instructions can be JavaScript instructions and the server 202 canoperate under a Node.js runtime environment.

In some embodiments, the server 202 can receive a plurality of vitalsign reporting strings 224 from the plurality of first responder clientdevices 204. Each of the vital sign reporting strings 224 can bereceived over a secured real-time bidirectional connection 218established between the server 202 and a particular first responderclient device 204. For example, the first responder client device 204can initiate the opening of the secured real-time bidirectionalconnection 218 with the server 202 and both the server 202 and the firstresponder client device 204 can then transmit messages back-and-forththrough the secured real-time bidirectional connection 218 without thefirst responder client device 204 having to initiate a new connection.

The vital sign reporting strings 224 can comprise biometric dataobtained by the first responder client device 204 from the sensingwearable 208 over the short-range communication network such as the WPAN212 (e.g., over Bluetooth™, BLE, NFC, infrared, Zigbee™, etc.). Forexample, the plurality of biometric sensors of the sensing wearable 208(e.g., the biometric sensors 410 of the wrist-worn electronic device 214of FIG. 4 , the biometric sensors 516 of the power-generating garment216 of FIGS. 5A and 5B, or a combination thereof) can continuously orperiodically measure certain vital signs (e.g., heart rate, perspirationrate, skin temperature, etc.) of the first responder. In someembodiments, the sensing wearable 208 (e.g., the wrist-worn electronicdevice 214, the power-generating garment 216, or a combination thereof)can transmit the measured vital signs to the first responder clientdevice 204. In other embodiments, the first responder client device 204can retrieve the measured vital signs from a memory of the sensingwearable 208.

The first responder client device 204 can generate a plurality of vitalsign reporting strings 224 using the biometric data obtained from thesensing wearable 208. The first responder client device 204 canperiodically transmit the plurality of vital sign reporting strings 224to the server 202 at a default reporting frequency 226 (e.g., once every60 seconds, once every 90 seconds, once every 120 seconds, etc.). Theplurality of vital sign reporting strings 224 can be stored in adatabase 228 accessible to the server 202.

In some embodiments, the database 228 can be a relational database suchas a MySQL™ database. In other embodiments, the database 228 can be aNoSQL database such as a MongoDB™ database. In further embodiments, thedatabase 228 can be a column-oriented or key-value database.

In one embodiment, the database 228 can be stored in a server memory 304(see FIG. 3A). In other embodiments, the database 228 can be distributedamong multiple storage nodes, stored in a cloud storage system, acombination thereof. The database 228 can associate the plurality ofvital sign reporting strings 224 (and the biometric data contained insuch strings) with a name, username, or other identifier of the firstresponder. For example, in some embodiments, the names, usernames, andother background information of all first responders covered by thefirst-responder dispatch system 200 can be imported into the database228 through a batch transfer via one or more comma separated values(CSV) files, TXT files, XML files, or a combination thereof. In otherembodiments, the names, usernames, and other background information offirst responders can be added to the database 228 as first respondersregister for an account through a mobile application 702 (see FIG. 7A)provided as part of the first responder dispatch system 200.

The server 202 can receive a particular vital sign reporting string 224over the secured real-time bidirectional connection 218 comprising anabnormal vital sign (see FIG. 7E for an example of an abnormal vitalsign 738 shown on a responder biometric display GUI 728 rendered by amobile application 702 running on the first responder client device204). In some instances, the abnormal vital sign can be an elevatedheart rate, an elevated perspiration rate, an elevated skin temperature,or a combination thereof of the first responder. The server 202 candetermine the vital sign as abnormal when a numerical value representingthe vital sign exceeds a percentage change threshold (e.g., a ±50%change in heart rate, a ±10% change in skin temperature, a ±30% changein perspiration). The abnormal vital sign can be measured by theplurality of biometric sensors of the sensing wearable 208 (e.g., thebiometric sensors 410 of the wrist-worn electronic device 214 of FIG. 4, the biometric sensors 516 of the power-generating garment 216 of FIGS.5A and 5B, or a combination thereof) worn by the first responder.

In some embodiments, the vital sign reporting string 224 (as well as allother data strings transmitted and received by devices within the firstresponder dispatch system 200) can be a serialized JavaScript ObjectNotation (JSON) text string. The use of JSON text strings as the datainterchange format ensures that crucial data and information istransmitted between the server 202 and the various devices in the firstresponder dispatch system 200 efficiently and effectively. JSON textstrings are lighter in weight compared to XML files and are optimizedfor servers running JavaScript (for example, in a Node.js runtimeenvironment).

In response to receiving the vital sign reporting string 224 comprisingthe abnormal vital sign, the server 202 can generate and transmit analert string 230 to each of the plurality of dispatch client devices 206over the secured real-time bidirectional connection 218. In someembodiments, the alert string 230 can be generated and transmitted as aJSON text string. In other embodiments, the alert string 230 can begenerated and transmitted as a compressed JSON text string.

In some embodiments, the plurality of dispatch client devices 206 can beclient devices of dispatchers assigned to cover a particular station,firehouse, unit, department, or agency to which the first responderexhibiting the abnormal vital sign belongs. In other embodiments, theplurality of dispatch client devices 206 can be client devices of theaforementioned dispatchers and client devices of other first responders(e.g., client devices of all first responders in geographic proximity tothe first responder exhibiting the abnormal vital sign). As will bediscussed in the following sections, each of the plurality of dispatchclient devices 206 can be configured to generate on a display of thedispatch client device 206 an alert user interface (UI) window 800 (seeFIG. 8 ) in response to receiving the alert string 230. The alert string230 can comprise data concerning the first responder exhibiting theabnormal vital sign such as a name or current geographical location ofthe first responder.

The server 202 can receive a dispatch response string 232 from one ofthe plurality of dispatch client devices 206 in response to a dispatchuser input applied to the alert UI window 800 (see FIG. 8 ). Thedispatch response string 232 can inform the server 202 and the otherdispatch client devices 206 that this particular dispatch client device206 has chosen to handle or coordinate support or assistance for thefirst responder exhibiting the abnormal vital sign. For example, byapplying a user input to a “Handle” button of the alert UI window 800,the dispatcher can inform the server 202 and the other dispatchers thathe or she will send backup or medical assistance to the first responderexhibiting the abnormal vital sign. In other example embodiments wherethe dispatch client device 206 is the client device of a fellow firstresponder (e.g., a fellow police officer), applying a user input to the“Handle” button of the alert UI window 800 can inform the server 202 andthe other dispatch client devices 206 that this particular firstresponder will proceed to the current location of the first responderexhibiting the abnormal vital sign to offer aid or assistance.

The dispatch response string 232 can be received over one of theplurality of secured real-time bidirectional connections 218. Thedispatch response string 232 can comprise data or information concerninga name or other identifier of the dispatcher and a device hardwareaddress of the dispatch client device 206. In some embodiments, thedispatch response string 232 can be generated and transmitted as a JSONtext string. In other embodiments, the dispatch response string 232 canbe generated and transmitted as a compressed JSON text string. Thedispatch client device transmitting the dispatch response string 232 canbe designated by the server 202 as a responding dispatch client device234 and such a designation can be stored in the database 228.

The server 202 can generate and transmit a vital sign frequency changestring 236 to the first responder client device 204 of the firstresponder exhibiting the abnormal vital sign. The server 202 cantransmit the vital sign frequency change string 236 over a securedreal-time bidirectional connection 218. The vital sign frequency changestring 236 can instruct the first responder client device 204 toincrease a frequency of the vital sign reporting strings 224 transmittedby the first responder client device 204 to the server 202. For example,the vital sign frequency change string 236 can instruct the firstresponder client device 204 to increase a frequency of the vital signreporting strings 224 transmitted by the first responder client device204 to the server 202 from a default reporting frequency 226 to anincreased reporting frequency 238. As a more specific example, the vitalsign frequency change string 236 can instruct the first responder clientdevice 204 to increase a frequency of the vital sign reporting strings224 transmitted by the first responder client device 204 to the server202 from once every 60 seconds to once every 10 seconds.

In some embodiments, the vital sign frequency change string 236 can begenerated and transmitted as a JSON text string. In other embodiments,the vital sign frequency change string 236 can be generated andtransmitted as a compressed JSON text string.

In response to receiving the vital sign frequency change string 236 fromthe server 202, the first responder client device 204 can generate andtransmit the vital sign reporting strings 224 at the new increasedreporting frequency 238. In some embodiments, the first responder clientdevice 204 can communicate with the sensing wearable 208 to transmitmore frequent vital sign measurements taken of the first responder tothe first responder client device 204. In other embodiments, the firstresponder client device 204 can communicate with the sensing wearable208 to take more frequent vital sign measurements of the first responderand transmit such vital sign measurements to the first responder clientdevice 204 more frequently.

The server 202 can generate and transmit a historical vital sign string240 to the responding dispatch client device 234. The historical vitalsign string 240 can be transmitted over the secured real-timebidirectional connection 218. The historical vital sign string 240 cancomprise vital sign measurements taken of the first responder over apreceding time period. In some embodiments, the preceding time periodcan be the previous 60 minutes, the previous 90 minutes, the previous120 minutes, or a combination thereof. The historical vital sign string240 can be generated from data stored in the database 228. For example,the historical vital sign string 240 can be generated from data obtainedfrom previous vital sign reporting strings 224 received from the firstresponder client device 204 and stored in the database 228.

In some embodiments, the historical vital sign string 240 can begenerated and transmitted as a single JSON text string. In otherembodiments, the historical vital sign string 240 can be generated andtransmitted as a compressed single JSON text string.

The server 202 can also generate and transmit an event update string 242to each of the other dispatch client devices 206 once the respondingdispatch client device 234 has been ascertained. The event updatestrings 242 can be transmitted over the plurality of secured real-timebidirectional connections 218. The event update string 242 can informeach of the other dispatch client devices 206 that the first responderexhibiting the abnormal vital sign is in the process of receiving aid orsupport from the responding dispatch client device 234. Upon receivingthe event update string 242, each of the other dispatch client devices206 can either close the alert UI window 800 displayed on the dispatchclient device 206 entirely or remove the name of the first responderexhibiting the abnormal vital sign from a queue 808 (see FIG. 8 ) offirst responders in need of assistance.

In some embodiments, the event update string 242 can be generated andtransmitted as a single JSON text string. In other embodiments, theevent update string 242 can be generated and transmitted as a compressedsingle JSON text string.

FIG. 3A illustrates an embodiment of the server 202 of the firstresponder dispatch system 200. For purposes of the present disclosure,any references to the server 202 can be interpreted as a reference to aspecific component, module, chip, or circuitry within the server 202.For example, such components, modules, chip, or circuitry within theserver 202 can refer to any of the components, modules, chip, orcircuitry described in the following sections.

The server 202 can have one or more server processors 300, a servermemory 304, and a server communication interface 306. The serverprocessor 300 can be coupled to the server memory 304 and the servercommunication interface 306 through high-speed buses 308.

The server processor 300 can include one or more central processingunits (CPUs), graphical processing units (GPUs), Application-SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), ora combination thereof. The server processor 300 can execute softwarestored in the server memory 304 to execute the methods or instructionsdescribed herein. The server processor 300 can be implemented in anumber of different manners. For example, the server processor 300 canbe an embedded processor, a processor core, a microprocessor, a logiccircuit, a hardware finite state machine (FSM), a digital signalprocessor (DSP), or a combination thereof. As a more specific example,the server processor 300 can be a 64-bit processor.

The server memory 304 can store software, data, tables, logs, databases,or a combination thereof. The server memory 304 can be an internalmemory. Alternatively, the server memory 304 can be an external memory,such as a memory residing on a storage node, a cloud server, or astorage server. The server memory 304 can be a volatile memory or anon-volatile memory. For example, the server memory 304 can be anonvolatile storage such as a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM),Flash memory, disk storage, or a volatile storage such as static randomaccess memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The servermemory 304 can be the main storage unit for the server 202.

The server communication interface 306 can include one or more wired orwireless communication interfaces. For example, the server communicationinterface 306 can be a network interface card of the server 202. Theserver communication interface 306 can be a wireless modem or a wiredmodem. In one embodiment, the server communication interface 306 can bea wireless fidelity (WiFi) modem. In other embodiments, the servercommunication interface 306 can be a 3G modem, a 4G modem, an LTE modem,a Bluetooth™ component, a radio receiver, an antenna, or a combinationthereof. The server 202 can connect to or communicatively couple with adevice within the network 210 using the server communication interface306. The server 202 can transmit or receive packets or messages usingthe server communication interface 306.

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of a client device 309 of the firstresponder dispatch system 200. The client device 309 can refer to thefirst responder client device 204, the dispatch client device 206, or acombination thereof. For purposes of the present disclosure, anyreferences to the first responder client device 204 can be interpretedas a reference to a specific component, module, chip, or circuitrywithin the first responder client device 204 (herein depicted as theclient device 309). For example, such components, modules, chip, orcircuitry within the first responder client device 204 can refer to anyof the components, modules, chip, or circuitry described in thefollowing sections. Moreover, any references to the dispatch clientdevice 206 in the present disclosure can be interpreted as a referenceto a specific component, module, chip, or circuitry within the dispatchclient device 206 (herein depicted as the client device 309). Forexample, such components, modules, chip, or circuitry within thedispatch client device 206 can refer to any of the components, modules,chip, or circuitry described in the following sections.

The client device 309 can have a client processor 310, a client memory312, a wireless communication module 314 or chip, a client locationalunit 318, a client motion sensing module 320, and a display 322. Theclient processor 310 can be coupled to the client memory 312, and thewireless communication module 314 through high-speed buses 316.

The client processor 310 can include one or more CPUs, GPUs, ASICs,FPGAs, or a combination thereof. The client processor 310 can executesoftware or code stored in the client memory 312 to execute the methodsor instructions described herein. The client processor 310 can beimplemented in a number of different manners. For example, the clientprocessor 310 can be an embedded processor, a processor core, amicroprocessor, a logic circuit, a hardware FSM, a DSP, or a combinationthereof. As a more specific example, the client processor 310 can be a32-bit processor such as an ARM™ processor.

The client memory 312 can store software, data, logs, or a combinationthereof. The client memory 312 can comprise volatile memory,non-volatile memory, or both volatile memory and non-volatile memory.For example, the client memory 312 can be a nonvolatile storage such asNVRAM, Flash memory, or a volatile storage such as DRAM. The clientmemory 312 can comprise multiple memory components or chips.

The wireless communication module 314 can include a wirelesscommunication interface or chip. For example, the wireless communicationmodule 314 can be a network interface card or chip of the client device309. In one embodiment, the wireless communication module 314 can be aWiFi modem or chip. In other embodiments, the wireless communicationmodule 314 can be a 3G modem, a 4G modem, an LTE modem, a Bluetooth™component, a radio receiver, an antenna, or a combination thereof. Theclient device 309 can connect to or wirelessly communicate with theserver 202 and other devices on the network 210 using the wirelesscommunication module 314. The client device 309 can transmit or receivepackets or messages using the wireless communication module 314.

The client device 309 can also comprise a client locational unit 318having a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The GPS receiver canreceive GPS signals from a GPS satellite. The client device 309 can alsocomprise a client motion sensing module 320, a magnetometer, a compass,or a combination thereof. The client motion sensing module 320 can beimplemented as or comprise a multi-axis accelerometer including athree-axis accelerometer, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)accelerometer, a three-axis MEMS accelerometer, a multi-axis gyroscopeincluding a three-axis MEMS gyroscope, or a combination thereof.

The display 322 can be a touchscreen display such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a thin film transistor (TFT) display, an organiclight-emitting diode (OLED) display, an active-matrix organiclight-emitting diode (AMOLED) display, a super-AMOLED (S-AMOLED)display, a super LCD display (S-LCD), or a flexible instance of theaforementioned displays. In certain embodiments, the display 322 can bea retina display, a haptic touchscreen, or a combination thereof. Forexample, when the client device 309 is a smartphone, the display 322 canbe the touchscreen display of the smartphone.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a wrist-worn electronic device 214for use with the improved first responder dispatch system 200. As shownin FIG. 4 , the wrist-worn electronic device 214 can be a watch worn bythe first responder. In other embodiments, the wrist-worn electronicdevice 214 can take on the form of a fitness tracker, bracelet, armband,or a combination thereof. For purposes of the present disclosure, anyreferences to the wrist-worn electronic device 214 can be interpreted asa reference to a specific component, module, chip, or circuitry withinthe wrist-worn electronic device 214. For example, such components,modules, chip, or circuitry within the wrist-worn electronic device 214can refer to any of the components, modules, chip, or circuitrydescribed in the following sections.

The wrist-worn electronic device 214 can comprise a wearable processor400, a wearable memory 402, a wearable communication module 404, awearable locational unit 406, a wearable motion sensing module 408, anda plurality of biometric sensors 410 configured to measure a pluralityof vital signs of the first responder. For example, the vital signs cancomprise at least one of a heart rate, a perspiration rate, and a skintemperature of the first responder.

The wearable processor 400 can include one or more CPUs, GPUs, ASICs,FPGAs, or a combination thereof. The wearable processor 400 can executesoftware or code stored in the wearable memory 402 to execute themethods or instructions described herein. The wearable processor 400 canbe implemented in a number of different manners. For example, thewearable processor 400 can be an embedded processor, a processor core, amicroprocessor, a logic circuit, a digital signal processor, or acombination thereof. As a more specific example, the wearable processor400 can be a reduced instruction set computer (RISC), such as a 32-bitRISC ARM™ processor.

The wearable memory 402 can store software, firmware, data, logs, or acombination thereof. The wearable memory 402 can comprise volatilememory, non-volatile memory, or both volatile memory and non-volatilememory. For example, the wearable memory 402 can be a nonvolatilestorage such as NVRAM, Flash memory, or a volatile storage such as DRAMor SRAM. The wearable memory 402 can comprise multiple memory componentsor chips.

The wearable communication module 404 can include a wirelesscommunication interface or chip. For example, the wearable communicationmodule 404 can be a network interface card or chip of the wrist-wornelectronic device 214. In one embodiment, the wearable communicationmodule 404 can be a WiFi module or chip. In other embodiments, thewearable communication module 404 can be a 3G modem or chip, a 4G modemor chip, a 5G modem or chip, a long term evolution (LTE) modem or chip,a Bluetooth™ module or chip including a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)module or chip, a radio receiver, an antenna, or a combination thereof.The wrist-worn electronic device 214 can connect to or wirelesslycommunicate with the first responder client device 204, the server 202,and other devices on the network 210 using the wearable communicationmodule 404. The wrist-worn electronic device 214 can transmit or receivepackets or messages via the wearable communication module 404.

The wrist-worn electronic device 214 can also comprise a wearablelocational unit 406 having a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.The GPS receiver can receive GPS signals from a GPS satellite. Thewrist-worn electronic device 214 can also comprise a wearable motionsensing module 408, a magnetometer, a compass, or a combination thereof.The wearable motion sensing module 408 can measure a sudden motion ormovement undertaken by the first responder by measuring accelerations,rotations, positions, or orientations of the wrist-worn electronicdevice 214 in six degrees of freedom in three-dimensional (3D) space.The wearable motion sensing module 408 can be implemented as amulti-axis accelerometer including a three-axis accelerometer, amulti-axis gyroscope including a three-axis MEMS gyroscope, or acombination thereof.

The plurality of biometric sensors 410 can comprise at least one of aheart rate sensor 412, a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor 414, and askin temperature sensor 416. One or more of the plurality of biometricsensors 410 can be positioned or housed, at least partially, within adevice casing 418. For example, when the wrist-worn electronic device214 is a watch, one or more of the plurality of biometric sensors 410can be positioned or housed, at least partially, within a watch case.The plurality of biometric sensors 410 can also be electrically coupledto an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) via one or more analog frontends (AFEs) housed within the device casing 418. More specifically, theADC and the AFEs can be coupled to the same printed circuit board (PCB)shown in FIG. 4 .

In some embodiments, one or more of the plurality of biometric sensors410 can be positioned or embedded, at least partially, within a band 420or clasp of the wrist-worn electronic device 214. For example, one ormore of the plurality of biometric sensors 410 can be positioned orembedded within a watch band or within the clasp of a bracelet orfitness tracker.

The heart rate sensor 412 can comprise an optical heart rate sensor 422,an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor 424, or a combination thereof. Inother embodiments, the heart rate sensor 412 can comprise a bioimpedancesensory array.

In some embodiments, the optical heart rate sensor 422 can be aphotoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor array comprising a plurality of LEDs anda photodetector such as a phototransistor or charge-coupled device. Theplurality of LEDs can emit light of different wavelengths including redlight, green light, infrared light, or a combination thereof. Thephotoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor array can measure volumetric changes inblood flow in peripheral circulation (e.g., the rate of blood flowingthrough blood vessels within the wrist or forearm). For example, theoptical heart rate sensor 422 can be positioned in proximity to theradial or ulnar artery of the first responder. In some embodiments, atleast part of the LEDs can be positioned on the underside of the devicecasing 418. In other embodiments, the LEDs can be positioned along theinner surface of the band 420 or clasp.

The ECG sensor 424 can comprise a plurality of ECG sensor electrodes formeasuring the electrical activity of the heart of the first responder.The ECG sensor electrodes can be positioned at different points alongthe inner surface of the band 420 or clasp.

The GSR sensor 414 can measure an electrical conductance of the skin ofthe first responder that varies with the moisture level of the skin. Forexample, the GSR sensor 414 can be used to measure a perspiration rateof the first responder. In this and other embodiments, the GSR sensor414 can also be used to measure a heart rate of the first responder. TheGSR sensor 414 can be a sensory array comprising at least two GSRsensors. In other embodiments, the GSR sensor 414 can comprise betweentwo and eight GSR sensors spaced evenly apart. In some embodiments, theGSR sensors can be positioned along the inner surface of the band 420 orclasp.

The skin temperature sensor 416 can be configured for placement near theskin of the first responder. For example, the skin temperature sensor416 can be positioned along the inner surface of the band 420 or claspor positioned on the underside of the device casing 418. In someembodiments, the skin temperature sensor 416 can be an analogtemperature sensor coupled to the ADC and a temperature sensor AFE.

The wrist-worn electronic device 214 can also comprise an ambientenvironment temperature sensor 426. The ambient environment temperaturesensor 426 can be configured to measure an ambient temperature of thesurrounding environment. For example, the ambient environmenttemperature sensor 426 can measure a temperature in the immediatevicinity of the first responder. At least part of the ambientenvironment temperature sensor 426 can be positioned along an outersurface of the band 420 or along an exterior of the device casing 418.

The wrist-worn electronic device 214 can also comprise a display 428.The display 428 can be a touchscreen display such as an LCD, a TFTdisplay, a TFT LCD display, an OLED display, an AMOLED display, asuper-AMOLED (S-AMOLED) display, a super LCD display (S-LCD), or aflexible instance of the aforementioned displays. In certainembodiments, the display 428 can be a haptic touchscreen. For example,when the wrist-worn electronic device 214 is a watch, the display 428can be a watch face.

The wrist-worn electronic device 214 including the wearable processor400, the wearable memory 402, the wearable communication module 404, thewearable locational unit 406, the wearable motion sensing module 408,and the plurality of biometric sensors 410 can be powered by a battery,a solar cell or module, or a combination thereof. In some embodiment,the battery can be a rechargeable lithium-ion battery or a metal-airbattery (e.g., an aluminum air battery).

The wearable processor 400 can be programmed to execute instructions(e.g., instructions stored in the wearable memory 402) to display avital sign on the display 428 of the wrist-worn electronic device 214.For example, the wearable processor 400 can be programmed to executedinstructions as part of a wearable software application to display aheart rate, a perspiration rate, or a skin temperature of the firstresponder on the display 428 of the wrist-worn electronic device 214.

The wearable processor 400 can be programmed to execute instructions(e.g., instructions stored in the wearable memory 402) to display awearable connection state 430. The wearable connection state 430 canprovide information concerning whether the wrist-worn electronic device214 is currently connected to the first responder client device 204(e.g., via Bluetooth™ or BLE). In other embodiments, the wearableconnection state 430 can provide information concerning whether thefirst responder client device 204 is currently connected to the server202 via the secured real-time bidirectional connection 218. The wearableprocessor 400 can be programmed to execute instructions to alert thefirst responder (either via an audible alert or via haptic feedback)when the wrist-worn electronic device 214 is no longer connected to theserver 202 via the secured real-time bidirectional connection 218.

In some embodiments, the wrist-worn electronic device 214 can be anoff-the-shelf wearable device such as an Apple Watch™, a Fitbit Versa™,a Samsung Gear™, an LG Watch™, or a combination thereof. In otherembodiments, the wrist-worn electronic device 214 can be a customwrist-worn electronic device 214 optimized for the improved firstresponder dispatch system 200 and comprising the components describedherein.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate front and back views, respectively, of anembodiment of the power-generating garment 216 of the first responderdispatch system 200. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, thepower-generating garment 216 can be configured to be worn about a bodypart of the first responder. For example, the power-generating garment216 can be worn about a torso or upper body of the first responder. As amore specific example, the power-generating garment 216 can be at-shirt. In other embodiments, the power-generating garment 216 can be abutton-down shirt or a uniform such as a police officer uniform, afirefighter uniform, or an EMS uniform. In other embodimentscontemplated by this disclosure, the power-generating garment 216 can bea pair of pants or trousers, leggings, or shorts. In additionalembodiments contemplated by this disclosure, the power-generatinggarment 216 can be a hood or beanie cap.

In these and other embodiments, the power-generating garment 216 can bemade of a fabric comprising one or more types of synthetic fibers, yarn,or thread. For example, the power-generating garment 216 can be made ofa fabric comprising polyether-polyurea copolymer fibers (e.g., spandex,also known as Lycra™ or elastane).

As another example, the power-generating garment 216 can be made of afabric comprising a blend of cotton, polyester (e.g., polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) fibers), and spandex. As an additional example, thepower-generating garment 216 can be made of a fabric comprising a blendof cotton and spandex. In other example embodiments, thepower-generating garment 216 can be made of a fabric comprising a blendof cotton, polyester, polyamide (or nylon), and spandex. In furtherexample embodiments, the power-generating garment 216 can be made of afabric comprising a blend of cotton, nylon, and spandex.

When the power-generating garment 216 is made of fabric comprisingspandex, the power-generating garment 216 can be considered acompression garment. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, thepower-generating garment 216 can be made in the form of a compressiont-shirt or undershirt. One benefit of fabricating the power-generatinggarment 216 as a compression garment (e.g., a compression t-shirt orundershirt) is a tendency of the garment to tightly contour or cling tothe torso or upper body of the first responder. This ensures that theplurality of sensors or other electronics coupled to thepower-generating garment are pressed firmly against the skin of thefirst responder and do not shift or inadvertently lose physical contactwith the skin of the first responder when the first responder is inmotion.

As will be discussed in more detail in the following sections, at leasta portion of the fabric (i.e., fibers, yarn, or thread) making up thepower-generating garment 216 can comprise thermoelectric fabrics,wearable triboelectric nanogenerators, or a combination thereof. Forpurposes of this disclosure, the term “thread” can refer to any one orcombination of spun thread, corespun thread, textured thread,monofilament thread, filament thread, or bonded thread.

The power-generating garment 216 can comprise a controller housing 500coupled to the power-generating garment 216. For example, the controllerhousing 500 can be sewn on to a portion of the power-generating garment216 by high-strength polymeric fibers or thread. In other embodiments,the controller housing 500 can be affixed to the power-generatinggarment 216 by adhesives, clips, or a combination thereof.

In one example embodiment, the controller housing 500 can be positionedon an upper dorsal portion or an upper posterior side of the garmentsuch that the controller housing 500 is in between the scapulae of thefirst responder when the first responder wears the power-generatinggarment 216. In other embodiments not shown in the figures, thecontroller housing 500 can be positioned on a lower dorsal portion or alower posterior side of the garment such that the controller housing 500is near the lumbar of the first responder when the first responder wearsthe power-generating garment 216.

For purposes of the present disclosure, any references to thepower-generating garment 216 can be interpreted as a reference to aspecific component, module, chip, or circuitry within the controllerhousing 500 of the power-generating garment 216 or a specific component,module, chip, or circuitry integrated with the power-generating garment216. For example, such components, modules, chip, or circuitry of thepower-generating garment 216 can refer to any of the components,modules, chip, or circuitry described in the following sections.

The controller housing 500 can comprise a garment processor 502, agarment memory 504, a garment communication module 506, a garment motionsensing module 508, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 510. Thegarment processor 502, the garment memory 504, the garment communicationmodule 506, the garment motion sensing module 508, and the ADC 510 canbe coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB) 512 such as a flexible PCB.The controller housing 500 can also comprise a number of analogfront-ends (AFEs) 514 for amplifying and conditioning signals from theplurality of sensors to the ADC 510. The AFEs 514 can serve as aninterface between the sensors and the ADC 510. In some embodiments, theAFEs 514 can be integrated with or be a part of a sensor module. Inother embodiments, the AFEs 514 can be separate chips or circuitrycomprising certain analog amplifiers, operational amplifiers, filters,and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

The garment processor 502 can include one or more CPUs, GPUs, ASICs,FPGAs, or a combination thereof. The garment processor 502 can executesoftware or code stored in the garment memory 504 to execute the methodsor instructions described herein. The garment processor 502 can beimplemented in a number of different manners. For example, the garmentprocessor 502 can be an embedded processor, a processor core, amicroprocessor, a logic circuit, a digital signal processor, or acombination thereof. As a more specific example, the garment processor502 can be a reduced instruction set computer (RISC), such as a 32-bitRISC ARM™ processor.

The garment memory 504 can store software, firmware, data, logs, or acombination thereof. The garment memory 504 can comprise volatilememory, non-volatile memory, or both volatile memory and non-volatilememory. For example, the garment memory 504 can be a nonvolatile storagesuch as NVRAM, Flash memory, or a volatile storage such as DRAM or SRAM.The garment memory 504 can comprise multiple memory components or chips.

The garment communication module 506 can include a wirelesscommunication interface or chip. In one embodiment, the garmentcommunication module 506 can be a WiFi module or chip. In otherembodiments, the garment communication module 506 can be a 3G modem orchip, a 4G modem or chip, a 5G modem or chip, a long term evolution(LTE) modem or chip, a Bluetooth™ module or chip including a BluetoothLow Energy (BLE) module or chip, a radio receiver, an antenna, or acombination thereof. The garment processor 502 can connect to orwirelessly communicate with the first responder client device 204, theserver 202, and other devices on the network 210 via the wearablecommunication module 404. The garment processor 502 can transmit orreceive packets or messages via the wearable communication module 404.

The garment motion sensing module 508 can measure a sudden motion ormovement undertaken by the first responder by measuring accelerations,rotations, positions, or orientations of the garment motion sensingmodule 508 in six degrees of freedom in three-dimensional (3D) space.The garment motion sensing module 508 can be implemented as a multi-axisaccelerometer including a three-axis accelerometer, a multi-axisgyroscope including a three-axis MEMS gyroscope, or a combinationthereof.

The power-generating garment 216 can comprise a plurality of biometricsensors 516 configured to measure a plurality of vital signs of thefirst responder. The biometric sensors 516 can be coupled to thepower-generating garment 216 by high-strength polymeric threads, organicthreads, or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, the biometricsensors 516 can be affixed to the power-generating garment 216 byadhesives, clips, or a combination thereof. The plurality of biometricsensors 516 can comprise at least one of a heart rate sensor 518, one ormore galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor 520, and a skin temperaturesensor 522.

The heart rate sensor 518 can comprise a number of ECG sensors and abioimpedance sensory array, or a combination thereof. The heart ratesensor 518 (e.g., the ECG sensors or the bioimpedance sensor array) cancomprise a plurality of sensor electrodes 524 for measuring theelectrical activity of the heart of the first responder. The sensorelectrodes 524 can be positioned on the front interior side of thepower-generating garment 216. For example, when the power-generatinggarment 216 is a compression t-shirt, the sensor electrodes 524 can bepositioned on the front interior side of the compression t-shirt. Morespecifically, the sensor electrodes 524 can be positioned substantiallyhalfway in between a garment collar and a midline of thepower-generating garment 216 such that the sensor electrodes 524 arepositioned immediately below the pectoral muscles and above an upperabdomen of the first responder when the first responder wears thepower-generating garment 216.

The GSR sensors 520 can measure an electrical conductance of the skin ofthe first responder that varies with the moisture level of the skin. Forexample, the GSR sensors 520 can be used to measure a perspiration rateof the first responder. In this and other embodiments, the GSR sensors520 can also be used to measure a heart rate of the first responder.

The GSR sensors 520 can be configured for placement directly on the skinof the first responder. For example, the GSR sensors 520 can beconfigured for placement near a region of the first responder's bodycomprising a concentration of sweat glands such as the axillary orarmpits or a region immediately below the pectoral muscles.

The GSR sensors 520 can be positioned along the front interior side ofthe power-generating garment 216, along a lateral interior side of thepower-generating garment 216, or a combination thereof. The GSR sensors520 can also be positioned along a transition region between the frontinterior side and the lateral interior side of the power-generatinggarment 216. For example, when the power-generating garment 216 is ashirt, the GSR sensors 520 can be positioned near an axillary or armpitregion of the shirt. As a more specific example, the GSR sensors 520 canmeasure the electrical conductance of the skin of the first respondernear the axillary or armpit of the first responder. In otherembodiments, the GSR sensors 520 can be positioned substantially halfwayin between a garment collar and a midline of the power-generatinggarment 216 such that the GSR sensor electrodes are positionedimmediately below the pectoral muscles and above an upper abdomen of thefirst responder. In additional embodiments, the GSR sensors 520 can bepositioned in a line along the sternum or upper center region of thepower-generating garment 216.

The skin temperature sensor 522 can be configured for placement near theskin of the first responder. In one embodiment, the skin temperaturesensor 522 can be positioned along an anterior or front inner side ofthe power-generating garment 216. For example, the skin temperaturesensor 522 can be positioned such that one or more electrodes of theskin temperature sensor 522 physically contact the sternum or pectoralsof the first responder. In other embodiments, the skin temperaturesensor 522 can be positioned along a dorsal or back inner side of thepower-generating garment 216. In some embodiments, the skin temperaturesensor 522 can be an analog temperature sensor coupled to the ADC 510and a temperature sensor AFE.

The power-generating garment 216 can also comprise an ambientenvironment temperature sensor 526. The ambient environment temperaturesensor 526 can be configured to measure an ambient temperature of thesurrounding environment. For example, the ambient environmenttemperature sensor 526 can measure a temperature in the immediatevicinity of the first responder. In some embodiments, at least part ofthe ambient environment temperature sensor 526 can be positioned alongan outer surface or side of the power-generating garment 216. Forexample, the ambient environment temperature sensor 526 can be affixedor otherwise coupled to a sleeve of the power-generating garment 216. Inother example embodiments, the ambient environment temperature sensor526 can be affixed or otherwise coupled to a cuff or collar of thepower-generating garment 216.

At least a portion of the power-generating garment 216 can be fabricatedfrom materials configured to generate or harvest energy from the wearerof the garment (hereinafter referred to as a power-generating fabricportion 528). As will be discussed in more detail in the followingsections, in some embodiments, the power-generating fabric portion 528can be a thermoelectric fabric (see FIG. 6B) configured to harvestthermal energy of the wearer. In other embodiments, the power-generatingfabric portion 528 can be made from or comprise triboelectric textilelayers (see FIG. 6C) configured to harvest mechanical energy of thewearer. At least one of the biometric sensors 516, the garment processor502, the garment memory 504, the garment communication module 506, thegarment motion sensing module 508, the ADC 510, the AFEs 514, and theambient environment temperature sensor 526 can be powered by energygenerated by the power-generating fabric portion 528.

The power-generating fabric portion 528 can be configured to convertthermal energy, mechanical energy, or a combination thereof produced bythe first responder (i.e., body heat, body motions, or a combinationthereof) into electrical power or electrical energy. As shown in theexample embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the power-generating fabricportion 528 can cover a trunk or torso of the first responder when thefirst responder wears the power-generating garment 216.

In some embodiments, the power-generating fabric portion 528 can referto a part of the power-generating garment 216 comprising certainconductive threads or fibers or certain thermoelectric or triboelectricfabric layers. In other embodiments, the power-generating fabric portion528 can be a separate panel, patch, or layer coupled to the remainderfabric layer(s) of the power-generating garment 216 by stitches orthread (e.g., polyester thread, cotton-wrapped polyester thread,mercerized cotton thread, Cordura™ nylon, or a combination thereof).Different types of power-generating fabric portions 528 will bediscussed in more detail in the following sections.

As depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a portion or segment of thepower-generating garment 216 can also be fabricated from or comprise aconductive fabric 530. The conductive fabric 530 can electrically couplethe power-generating fabric portion 528 to a power storage unit 532coupled to the power-generating garment 216. The conductive fabric 530can also electrically couple the plurality of biometric sensors 410 tothe power storage unit 532. The conductive fabric 530 can be integratedinto the remainder of the fabric making up the power-generating garment216. For example, thread or fibers making up the conductive fabric 530can be woven or knit together with non-conductive fabric making up theremainder of the power-generating garment 216 (e.g., cotton fibers,polyester (e.g., PET) fibers, etc.). In other embodiments, theconductive fabric 530 can be an additional fabric layer sewn or stitchedonto the remainder of the power-generating garment 216 as strips orpanels. The conductive fabric 530 will be discussed in more detail inthe following sections.

The power storage unit 532 can be coupled to the power-generatinggarment 216 via stitches, clips, adhesives, or a combination thereof.For example, the power storage unit 532 can be coupled to a hem or edgeof the power-generating garment 216. In other example embodiments, thepower storage unit 532 can be coupled to a collar or exterior surface ofthe power-generating garment 216.

In some embodiments, the power storage unit 532 can be a battery such asa rechargeable lithium-ion battery. In other embodiments, the batterycan be a lithium-iodine battery, a lithium-manganese dioxide battery, ora lithium-carbon monofluoride battery. In additional embodiments, thepower storage unit 532 can be a capacitor, super-capacitor, orultra-capacitor. For example, the power storage unit 532 can be acapacitor having a capacitance of approximately 1000 μF or above. Insome embodiments, the power storage unit 532 can store power generatedby the power-generating fabric portion 528 of the power-generatinggarment 216. For example, the power-generating fabric portion 528 canharvest enough energy from the wearer of the power-generating garment216 (e.g., the first responder wearing the power-generating garment 216on duty) to recharge the power storage unit 532.

In these and other embodiments, the power storage unit 532 can also berecharged by being electrically coupled or connected to a power outletvia a Universal Serial Bus (USB) charger such as a USB connector (e.g.,USB 3.0, 2. Type A, USB 3.0 Type A, USB 2.0 micro-B 5 pin, USB 3.0micro-B 10 pin, USB 2.0 mini-B 5 pin, USB 2.0 type B), an Apple™lighting connector, a 2.5 mm direct current (DC) power cable, a 12Vreceptacle charger, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 6A illustrates a close-up view of a conductive fabric 530. Theconductive fabric 530 can be woven, knit, or both woven and knit fromconductive polymeric threads 600. In one embodiment, the conductivepolymeric threads 600 can be textile threads 602 coated or covered by aconducting polymer blend 604.

In some embodiments, the textile threads 602 can be or comprisepolyester (e.g., PET) threads, cotton-wrapped polyester threads, spandexthreads, nylon, or a combination thereof. In these and otherembodiments, the conducting polymer blend 604 can comprisepoly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS),PEDOT:PSS and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), or PEDOT:PSS and polyvinylalcohol (PVA), or a combination thereof. For example, the conductingpolymer blend 604 can be deposited on the textile threads 602 via inkjetprinting, sponge stencil techniques, spin coating, spraying, or acombination thereof. The current carrying capacity of fibers making upthe conductive fabric 530 can reach 10³ A/cm² or higher in someinstances.

FIG. 6B illustrates a close-up view of an embodiment of thepower-generating fabric portion 528 comprising a thermoelectric fabric.In some embodiments, thermoelectric fabric can comprise multiple layersof carbon nanotube (CNT) film 606. In these and other embodiments, theCNT films 606 (having a thickness of between about 20 to 40 μm) can belayered with polymeric films 608 to form a multilayered composite. Morespecifically, the CNT films 606 can comprise multi-walled CNTs(including both n-type CNTs and p-type CNTs).

The polymeric films 608 can be or comprise thin films or layers ofpolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In other embodiments, the polymericfilms 608 can be or comprise thin films or layers ofpolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

As depicted in FIG. 6B, the CNT films 606 can be layered in analternating manner with the polymeric films 608. In other embodiments,multiple layers of CNT films 606 can initially be pressed together andthen stacked in an alternating manner with one or more layers ofpolymeric films 608 to be further heated and pressed together. The CNTfilms 606 can be pressed and heated together with the polymeric films608 to a temperature above the melting point of the polymers, or above300 Kelvin) to form the layers into a type of fabric.

In some embodiments, the thermoelectric fabric making up thepower-generating fabric portion 528 can comprise between 50 and 100layers of CNT films 606 and polymeric films 608 (for example, stacked inan alternating arrangement). In other embodiments, the thermoelectricfabric making up the power-generating fabric portion 528 can comprisebetween 100 and 200 layers of CNT films 606 and polymeric films 608 (forexample, stacked in an alternating arrangement).

The thermoelectric fabric disclosed herein can generate a current orvoltage when charge carriers within the layers migrate due to atemperature gradient created by exposure or contact of thethermoelectric fabric with a heat source (e.g., human skin). Thethermoelectric fabric disclosed herein can have very stablethermoelectric properties when operating in temperature ranges near roomtemperature or average human body temperature. In some embodiments, thethermoelectric fabric comprising multiple layers of CNT films 606 andpolymeric films 608 can generate between approximately 0.5 mW to 1.2 mWof power per cm² of fabric.

In other embodiments contemplated by this disclosure but not shown inthe figures, the power-generating fabric portion 528 can also comprisethermoelectric fabric made of PEDOT:PSS coated textile threads 602. Forexample, the PEDOT:PSS coated textile threads 602 can be linked togetherwith metallic conductors such as fine metal threads or wires to yield athermoelectric fabric capable of harvesting energy from the body heat ofthe wearer (e.g., the first responder).

FIG. 6C illustrates an embodiment of the power-generating fabric portion528 comprising wearable triboelectric nanogenerator textile layers 610configured to harvest electrical energy from the mechanical energy ofthe wearer. In some embodiments, the wearable triboelectricnanogenerator textile layers 610 can comprise multiple layers ofsilver-coated textile 612 and nano-patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)614. More specifically, the wearable triboelectric nanogenerator textilelayers 610 can comprise layers of silver-coated textile 612 arranged inan alternating manner with layers of nano-patterned PDMS 614. In someembodiments, the nano-patterned PDMS 614 can comprise nanowire ornanorods coated (e.g., dip-coated) or covered with PDMS. Morespecifically, the nanowire or nanorods can be zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods,gold (Au) rods, or a combination thereof.

The wearable triboelectric nanogenerator textile layers 610 can generatea voltage as a result of frictional forces, compressive forces, or acombination thereof applied to the various layers of the fabric. In someembodiments, the wearable triboelectric nanogenerator textile layers 610can generate between approximately 0.5 mW to 1.0 mW of power per cm² offabric.

FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment of a log-in graphical user interface(GUI) 700 rendered by a mobile application 702 running on the firstresponder client device 204. In some embodiments, the mobile application702 can be an Apple™ iOS application, an Apple™ WatchOS™ application, ora combination thereof. In these and other embodiments, the mobileapplication 702 can be written in the Swift™ programming language, Cprogramming language, C++ programming language, Objective-C programminglanguage, or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, the mobileapplication 702 can be an Android™ application, a WearOS™ application,or a combination thereof. In these and other embodiments, the mobileapplication can be written in the Java™ programming language, Cprogramming language, C++ programming language, or a combinationthereof.

As shown in FIG. 7A, a first responder can log in to the mobileapplication 702 by inputting certain credentials (e.g., login name andpassword) of the first responder through the log-in GUI 700. Also, asshown in FIG. 7A, a new user of the mobile application 702 (i.e., afirst responder first using the mobile application 702) can register foran account by applying a user input to a register button 704 or icon.The mobile application 702 can render a registration GUI 706 (see FIG.7B) when the new user applies a user input to the register button 704 oricon.

FIG. 7B illustrates an embodiment of the registration GUI 706. As shownin FIG. 7B, the registration GUI 706 can request and obtain certainbiometric information 708 from the first responder in order to set up anew account for the first responder. For example, the biometricinformation 708 can comprise information concerning a gender 710, aheight 712, a weight 714, an age 716, a race 718, a blood type 720, andany allergies 722 of the first responder. The registration GUI 706 canalso obtain certain contact information 724 (e.g., name, phone number,email, etc.) and occupation-related information 726 such as a rank,badge number, assigned station, vehicle, or engine number, or acombination thereof of the first responder.

The first responder client device 204 can transmit the biometricinformation 708, the contact information 724, and the occupation-relatedinformation 726 obtained from the user to the server 202 to be saved inthe database 228. The server 202 can associate the biometric information708, the contact information 724, and the occupation-related information726 with a name, username, or I.D. of the first responder.

In some embodiments, the server 202 can use any of the biometricinformation 708, the contact information 724, or the occupation-relatedinformation 726 to populate the dispatch console UI 802 (see FIG. 9 ).In these and other embodiments, the server 202 can also include datafrom any of the biometric information 708, the contact information 724,or the occupation-related information 726 into the historical vital signstring 240 (see FIG. 2 ).

Moreover, the server 202 can also use data from the biometricinformation 708 (for example, the gender 710, the height 712, the weight714, and the age 716 of the first responder) into threshold calculationsor standards set for determining whether a vital sign data received fromthe first responder client device 204 (see FIG. 2 ) should be flagged asan abnormal vital sign. For example, a 30% change in a heart-rate of afirst responder in his or her mid-twenties having a body-mass index(BMI) of 20 can be considered normal while the same change in heart-rateof another first responder in his or her mid-fifties having a BMI of 30or above can be considered abnormal.

FIG. 7C illustrates an embodiment of an instance of a responderbiometric display GUI 728 rendered by the mobile application 702 runningon the first responder client device 204 prior to initialization by theuser. A first responder can apply a user input to an initialization GUIelement 730 displayed as part of the responder biometric display GUI 728to instruct the first responder client device 204 to begin obtainingvital sign measurements from the sensing wearable 208 (e.g., thewrist-worn electronic device 214, the power-generating garment 216, or acombination thereof). The initialization GUI element 730 can comprise abutton, icon, symbol, link, or a combination thereof. For example, theinitialization GUI element 730 can be a “Start” button that the firstresponder can press or tap. The responder biometric display GUI 728 canalso comprise a connection status GUI element 732 informing the firstresponder of a connection status of the real-time bidirectionalconnection 218 between the first responder client device 204 and theserver 202 (see FIG. 2 ). The connection status GUI element 732 cancomprise text, icons, symbols, or a combination thereof. For example,the connection status GUI element 732 can display the word “Connected”and a green circular icon to indicate that the first responder clientdevice 204 is connected to the server 202 via a real-time bidirectionalconnection 218 or display the word “Disconnected” and a red circularicon to indicate that the real-time bidirectional connection 218 betweenthe first responder client device 204 and the server 202 has been closedor is no longer active. The first responder can exit the mobileapplication 702 and re-start the mobile application 702 when theconnection status GUI element 732 indicates that the real-timebidirectional connection 218 has been closed or is no longer active.

FIG. 7D illustrates that one or more vital sign measurements 734 can bedisplayed via the responder biometric display GUI 728 once the firstresponder applies a user input to the initialization GUI element 730.The vital sign measurements 734 can be biometric measurements of thefirst responder obtained from the sensing wearable 208 (e.g., thewrist-worn electronic device 214, the power-generating garment 216, or acombination thereof). The vital sign measurements 734 can comprise aheart rate, a perspiration rate, a skin temperature, or a combinationthereof.

FIG. 7E illustrates an embodiment of an inquiry user interface (UI)window 736 overlaid on the responder biometric display GUI 728 inquiringas to a status of the first responder. The inquiry UI window 736 can bedisplayed in response to the first responder client device 204 receivingan inquiry string generated and transmitted by the server 202. Theinquiry string can be generated by the server 202 after the server 202receives an instance of a vital sign reporting string 224 over thesecured real-time bidirectional connection 218 comprising an abnormalvital sign 738. As shown in FIG. 7E, the abnormal vital sign 738 can bedisplayed via the responder biometric display GUI 728.

As previously discussed, in some instances, the abnormal vital sign 738can be an elevated heart rate, an elevated perspiration rate, anelevated skin temperature, or a combination thereof of the firstresponder. The server 202 can determine the vital sign as abnormal whena numerical value representing the vital sign exceeds a percentagechange threshold (e.g., a ±50% change in heart rate, a ±10% change inskin temperature, a ±30% change in perspiration) predetermined or presetby the system 200 and stored in the database 228. The abnormal vitalsign 738 can be measured by the plurality of biometric sensors of thesensing wearable 208 (e.g., the biometric sensors 410 of the wrist-wornelectronic device 214 of FIG. 4 , the biometric sensors 516 of thepower-generating garment 216 of FIGS. 5A and 5B, or a combinationthereof) worn by the first responder.

The inquiry UI window 736 can be a window or graphic asking the firstresponder to confirm whether the first responder requires assistance ormedical attention. If the first responder does not apply a user input tothe inquiry UI window 736 (i.e., if the first responder isnon-responsive) or does not apply a user input within a predeterminedtime period, the server 202 can proceed to transmit the alert string 230to each of the plurality of dispatch client devices 206. In cases wherethe abnormal vital sign 738 is obtained in error or the first responderdoes not require assistance or medical attention despite exhibiting theabnormal vital sign 738, the first responder can apply a user input to aportion of the inquiry UI window 736 (e.g., a “No” button) to cancel anyalerts sent out by the server 202. At this point, the first responderclient device 204 can generate and transmit an alert cancellation stringover the secured real-time bidirectional connection 218 to the server202. If an alert string 230 has already been sent out by the server 202,the server 202 can then transmit the alert cancellation string to eachof the plurality of dispatch client devices 206 over the securedreal-time bidirectional connection 218. Moreover, the server 202 canthen transmit another instance of the vital sign frequency change string236 to the first responder client device 204 in order to decrease afrequency of the vital sign reporting strings 224 (see FIG. 2 )transmitted by the first responder client device 204 to the server 202.In some embodiments, the inquiry string and the alert cancellationstring can be generated and transmitted as JSON text strings. In otherembodiments, the inquiry string and the alert cancellation string can begenerated and transmitted as compressed JSON text strings.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an alert UI window 800 overlaid on adispatch console UI 802 rendered by a dispatch client application 804running on a dispatch client device 206. In some embodiments, thedispatch client application 804 can be a downloadable desktop or mobileapplication written in the Java™ programming language, the C programminglanguage, the C++ programming language, or a combination thereof. As amore specific example, the dispatch client application 804 can be aJava™-based application with certain GUI elements generated using theJava™ Swing application programming interface (API). In otherembodiments, the dispatch client application 804 can be a downloadabledesktop or mobile application written in the Swift™ programminglanguage, the Objective-C programming language, the C programminglanguage, the C++ programming language, or a combination thereof.

In alternative embodiments, the dispatch client application 804 can be aweb-based application developed using a web application framework suchas an Angular.js framework, an Express.js framework, a Django™ webframework, Ruby on Rails™ web framework, or a combination thereof. Inthese and other embodiments, the dispatch client application 804 can bewritten in one or more programming languages including Hypertext MarkupLanguage (HTML) (e.g., HTML5, Extensible HTML (XHTML), or a combinationthereof), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) style sheet language, JavaScriptprogramming language, Python™ programming language, Ruby™ programminglanguage, or a combination thereof. In such embodiments, the web-baseddispatch client application 804 can be accessed via a web browser of thedispatch client device 206.

The dispatch console UI 802 can be a default UI or dashboard of thedispatch client application 804. The dispatch console UI 802 can begenerated using a platform-independent component-based UI framework. Forexample, the platform-independent component-based UI framework can be aJava™ TableLayout API, a Java™ GridBagLayout API, or anotherplatform-independent UI widget.

An alert UI window 800 can be overlaid or pop up on the dispatch consoleUI 802 as soon as the dispatch client device 206 receives an alertstring 230 (see FIG. 2 ) from the server 202. When only one firstresponder is in need of assistance or support, the alert UI window 800can display a contact information 724, an occupation-related information726, or a combination thereof of the first responder along with asingular UI element 806, such as a “Handle” button, configured toreceive a user input from a user of the dispatch client application 804such as a dispatcher or another first responder. In some embodiments,the singular UI element 806 can be a single “Handle” button, icon, orhyperlink that the dispatcher can click or tap on to indicate awillingness of the dispatcher to coordinate aid or support for the firstresponder exhibiting the abnormal vital sign. In response to thedispatcher applying a user input to the singular UI element 806, thedispatch client device 206 can send a dispatch response string 232 tothe server 202 over a real-time bidirectional connection 218 (see FIG. 2).

As previously discussed, the dispatch response string 232 can inform theserver 202 and the other dispatch client devices 206 that thisparticular dispatch client device 206 has chosen to handle or coordinatesupport or assistance for the first responder exhibiting the abnormalvital sign. For example, by applying a user input to a “Handle” buttonof the alert UI window 800, the dispatcher can inform the server 202 andthe other dispatchers that he or she will send or coordinate backup ormedical assistance to the first responder exhibiting the abnormal vitalsign. In other example embodiments where the dispatch client device 206is the client device of a fellow first responder (e.g., a fellow policeofficer), applying a user input to the “Handle” button of the alert UIwindow 800 can inform the server 202 and the other dispatch clientdevices 206 that this particular first responder will proceed to thecurrent location of the first responder exhibiting the abnormal vitalsign to offer aid or assistance.

In some embodiments, the server 202 can be programmed to transmitanother alert string 230 comprising a queue formation string generatedby the server 202 to each of the plurality of dispatch client devices206 in response to the server 202 receiving another vital sign reportingstring 224 from another first responder client device 204. In theseembodiments, the other vital sign reporting string 224 can comprisevital sign data reflecting an abnormal vital sign measured of anotherfirst responder (i.e., when another first responder wearing the sensingwearable 208 is detected as exhibiting abnormal vital signs).

In this case, the client processor 310 of the dispatch client device 206can be programmed to render an updated instance of the alert UI window800 overlaid on the dispatch console UI 802 (as depicted in FIG. 8 ).The updated instance of the alert UI window 800 can be configured todisplay a queue 808 comprising the first responder and the other firstresponder. The queue 808 can be established based on the timing of thevital sign reporting strings 224 received by the server 202 from thevarious first responder client devices 204. Although FIG. 8 illustratesthe queue 808 comprising two first responders, it is contemplated bythis disclosure that the first responder dispatch system 200 canaccommodate a queue 808 of three or more first responders.

In these and other embodiments, the updated instance of the alert UIwindow 800 can also display the same singular UI element 806 (e.g., one“Handle” button or icon). A user input applied to the singular UIelement 806 (e.g., the one “Handle” button or icon) rendered in theupdated instance of the alert UI window 800 can generate an instance ofa dispatch response string 232 (see FIG. 2 ) that associates thisparticular dispatch client device 206 with one first responder indicatedat a fore of the queue 808. An advantage of the single “Handle”-buttonfeature described herein is that first responders on duty can be assuredthat the first responder dispatch system 200 prohibits dispatchers fromplaying favorites with which first responder to help first and how aidor assistance is provided to first responders in need. Another advantageof the single “Handle”-button feature described herein is that itsimplifies the entire workflow and cuts down on the number of userinputs needed from the dispatcher and the number of decisions needed tobe made by a dispatcher to respond to an alert sent out by a firstresponder in need.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the dispatch console UI 802populated with data and graphics concerning a location and vital signsof the first responder. The dispatch console UI 802 can be populated inresponse to the dispatcher applying a user input to the singular UIelement 806 of the alert UI window 800 (see FIG. 8 ) indicating awillingness of the dispatcher to assist the first responder exhibitingthe abnormal vital sign. Once the dispatcher has applied the user inputto the singular UI element 806, the server 202 can associate thisparticular dispatcher with the first responder exhibiting the abnormalvital sign and store this association in the database 228.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the dispatch console UI 802 can be populated with abiometric information 708, a contact information 724, and anoccupation-related information 726 of the first responder exhibiting theabnormal vital sign. The dispatch console UI 802 can also comprise a mappanel 900 and a dynamic chart panel 902.

The dispatch client application 804 can render the map panel 900 usingGPS coordinate data 904 received as part of the vital sign reportingstrings 224, the historical vital sign string 240, or a combinationthereof received from the server 202.

As previously discussed, the first responder client device 204 cancomprise a GPS locational unit 318 configured to transmit GPS coordinatedata 904 to the server 202 (see FIG. 3B). The server 202 can beprogrammed to concatenate the GPS coordinate data 904 to JSON textstrings transmitted to the dispatch client device 206 (e.g., theresponding dispatch client device 234) such as the vital sign reportingstrings 224, the historical vital sign string 240, or a combinationthereof. The GPS coordinate data 904 can be concatenated by being addedto a serialized JSON text string. The server 202 can then transmit thevital sign reporting strings 224 and the historical vital sign string240 comprising the GPS coordinate data 904 to the dispatch client device206 (e.g., the responding dispatch client device 234).

For example, the dispatch client application 804 can render the mappanel 900 showing a current location of the first responder exhibitingthe abnormal vital sign. As a more specific example, the map panel 900can render a map graphic showing the current location of the firstresponder using geocode data. The dispatch client application 804 canalso make static Google® Map calls to generate the map graphic.

The dispatch client application 804 can also render the dynamic chartpanel 902 using the vital sign data received from the historical vitalsign string 240 and the vital sign reporting strings 224 of increasedfrequency (e.g., once every 10 seconds). In some embodiments, thedynamic chart panel 902 can be rendered using a traced-based UI chartingframework. For example, the trace-based UI charting framework can be aJChart2D framework (see http://jchart2d.sourceforge.net). Real-timebiometric data of the first responder received from the server 202 canbe rendered as real-time traces 906 or graphs on the dynamic chart panel902. For example, the heart rate, skin moisture level, skin temperature,or a combination thereof of the first responder can be rendered asseparate real-time traces 906 on the dynamic chart panel 902.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a computer-implemented method 1000for providing dispatch support to first responders. The method 1000 cancomprise measuring, using a plurality of biometric sensors coupled to asensing wearable 208 worn about a body part of the first responder, aplurality of vital signs of the first responder, wherein the sensingwearable 208 (e.g., the biometric sensors 410 of the wrist-wornelectronic device 214 of FIG. 4 , the biometric sensors 516 of thepower-generating garment 216 of FIGS. 5A and 5B, or a combinationthereof) comprises a processor, a memory, and a wireless communicationunit configured to wirelessly communicate with a first responder clientdevice 204 in proximity to the first responder in step 1002. The method1000 can also comprise receiving, at the server 202, a vital signreporting string 224 from the first responder client device 204 over asecured real-time bidirectional connection 218, wherein the vital signreporting string 224 comprises vital sign data reflecting an abnormalvital sign of the first responder, and wherein the abnormal vital signis measured by the plurality of biometric sensors in step 1004.

The method 1000 can further comprise transmitting an alert string 230generated by the server processor 300 to each of a plurality of dispatchclient devices 206 over a plurality of secured real-time bidirectionalconnections 218, wherein an alert user interface (UI) window 800 isconfigured to be generated on a display of a dispatch client device 206in response to the dispatch client device 206 receiving the alert string230 in step 1006. The method 1000 can also comprise receiving, at theserver 202, a dispatch response string 232 from one of the plurality ofdispatch client devices 206 in response to a dispatch user input appliedto the alert UI window 800, wherein the dispatch response string 232 isreceived over one of the plurality of secured real-time bidirectionalconnections 218, and wherein the dispatch client device 206 transmittingthe dispatch response string 232 is designated as a responding dispatchclient device in step 1008.

The method 1000 can also comprise transmitting a vital sign frequencychange string 236 generated by the server processor 300 over the securedreal-time bidirectional connection 218 to the first responder clientdevice 204 in order to increase a frequency of the vital sign reportingstrings 224 transmitted by the first responder client device 204 to theserver 202 in step 1010. The method 1000 can further comprisetransmitting a historical vital sign string 240 generated by the serverprocessor and a plurality of vital sign reporting strings 224 ofincreased frequency to the responding dispatch client device over thesecured real-time bidirectional connection 218 in step 1012.

The system 200 and methods described in the present disclosure providesan improvement in the field of first responder dispatch communications.The system 200 and methods described herein provide improvements in howdispatch systems are organized and how first responders are supported bydispatchers. For example, rather than the first responder having toinitiate a call for help over a traditional radio-based communicationsystem, the system 200 and methods described herein provide an automatedmechanism by which first responders in need are identified and handledby dispatchers in traditional dispatch settings or other firstresponders on duty.

Moreover, the dispatch system 200 and methods described herein can alsobe used to improve the overall health of first responders covered by thesystem 200. For example, the system 200 can identify first responderswho may benefit from preventative or medical treatments for certainhealth-related ailments or conditions (either diagnosed or undiagnosed).As such, the dispatch system 200 and methods described herein canmaintain the health and safety of first responders on and off the job.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art that variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe embodiments. In addition, the flowcharts or logic flows depicted inthe figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequentialorder, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps oroperations may be provided, or steps or operations may be eliminated,from the described flows, and other components may be added to, orremoved from, the described systems. Accordingly, other embodiments arewithin the scope of the following claims.

Each of the individual variations or embodiments described andillustrated herein has discrete components and features which may bereadily separated from or combined with the features of any of the othervariations or embodiments. Modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation, material, composition of matter, process, processact(s) or step(s) to the objective(s), spirit or scope of the presentinvention.

Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recitedevents that is logically possible, as well as the recited order ofevents. Moreover, additional steps or operations may be provided orsteps or operations may be eliminated to achieve the desired result.

Furthermore, where a range of values is provided, every interveningvalue between the upper and lower limit of that range and any otherstated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed withinthe invention. Also, any optional feature of the inventive variationsdescribed may be set forth and claimed independently, or in combinationwith any one or more of the features described herein.

All existing subject matter mentioned herein (e.g., publications,patents, patent applications and hardware) is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety except insofar as the subject matter may conflictwith that of the present invention (in which case what is present hereinshall prevail). The referenced items are provided solely for theirdisclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothingherein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention isnot entitled to antedate such material by virtue of prior invention.

Reference to a singular item, includes the possibility that there areplural of the same items present. More specifically, as used herein andin the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “said” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude anyoptional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve asantecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,”“only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements,or use of a “negative” limitation. Unless defined otherwise, alltechnical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning ascommonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which thisinvention belongs.

This disclosure is not intended to be limited to the scope of theparticular forms set forth, but is intended to cover alternatives,modifications, and equivalents of the variations or embodimentsdescribed herein. Further, the scope of the disclosure fully encompassesother variations or embodiments that may become obvious to those skilledin the art in view of this disclosure.

It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that thevarious methods disclosed herein may be embodied in a non-transitoryreadable medium, machine-readable medium, and/or a machine accessiblemedium comprising instructions compatible, readable, and/or executableby a processor or server processor of a machine, device, or computingdevice. The structures and modules in the figures may be shown asdistinct and communicating with only a few specific structures and notothers. The structures may be merged with each other, may performoverlapping functions, and may communicate with other structures notshown to be connected in the figures. Accordingly, the specificationand/or drawings may be regarded in an illustrative rather than arestrictive sense.

I claim:
 1. A responder dispatch system, comprising: a wrist-wornelectronic device configured to be worn about a wrist of a responder,wherein the wrist-worn electronic device comprises a processor, amemory, a wireless communication unit configured to wirelesslycommunicate with a responder client device in proximity to theresponder, and a plurality of biometric sensors coupled to thewrist-worn electronic device and configured to measure a plurality ofvital signs of the responder, wherein the responder client device isconfigured to receive the plurality of vital signs from the wrist-wornelectronic device over a wireless personal area network; and a servercomprising a server processor, a server memory, and a servercommunication unit configured to communicate with the responder clientdevice and a plurality of dispatch client devices, wherein the serverprocessor is programmed to execute instructions to: receive a vital signreporting string from the responder client device over a securedreal-time bidirectional connection, wherein the vital sign reportingstring comprises vital sign data reflecting an abnormal vital sign ofthe responder, and wherein the abnormal vital sign is measured by theplurality of biometric sensors, transmit an alert string generated bythe server processor to each of the plurality of dispatch client devicesover a plurality of secured real-time bidirectional connections, whereinan alert user interface (UI) window is configured to be generated on adisplay of a dispatch client device in response to the dispatch clientdevice receiving the alert string, receive a dispatch response stringfrom one of the plurality of dispatch client devices in response to adispatch user input applied to the alert UI window, wherein the dispatchresponse string is received over one of the plurality of securedreal-time bidirectional connections, and wherein the dispatch clientdevice transmitting the dispatch response string is designated as aresponding dispatch client device, transmit a vital sign frequencychange string generated by the server processor to the responder clientdevice over the secured real-time bidirectional connection in order toincrease a frequency of the vital sign reporting strings transmitted bythe responder client device to the server, and transmit a historicalvital sign string generated by the server processor and a plurality ofvital sign reporting strings of increased frequency to the respondingdispatch client device over the secured real-time bidirectionalconnection.
 2. The responder dispatch system of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the secured real-time bidirectional connections is openedand maintained using a real-time transport framework supporting aWebSocket communication protocol.
 3. The responder dispatch system ofclaim 2, wherein the real-time transport framework is a Socket.IOJavaScript framework.
 4. The responder dispatch system of claim 1,wherein the wrist-worn electronic device is in the form of a watch. 5.The responder dispatch system of claim 1, wherein the wrist-wornelectronic device is in the form of a bracelet.
 6. The responderdispatch system of claim 1, wherein the wrist-worn electronic device isin the form of a fitness tracker.
 7. The responder dispatch system ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of biometric sensors comprise at leastone of a heart rate sensor configured to measure a heart rate of theresponder, a motion sensor configured to detect a sudden motionundertaken by the responder, a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensorconfigured to measure a moisture level of the skin of the responder, anda temperature sensor to measure a skin temperature of the responder, andwherein the vital sign reporting string comprises values correspondingto the heart rate, motion, skin moisture level, and skin temperature ofthe responder.
 8. The responder dispatch system of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the vital sign reporting strings, the alert strings, thedispatch response string, the vital sign frequency string, and thehistorical vital sign string is a serialized JavaScript Object Notation(JSON) string.
 9. The responder dispatch system of claim 8, wherein theresponder client device comprises a global positioning system (GPS)locational unit configured to transmit GPS coordinate data to theserver, wherein the server processor is further programmed to executeinstructions to: concatenate the GPS coordinate data to at least one ofthe vital sign reporting strings and the historical vital sign string,and transmit at least one of the vital sign reporting strings and thehistorical vital sign string comprising the GPS coordinate data to theresponding dispatch client device.
 10. The responder dispatch system ofclaim 9, wherein a client processor of the responding dispatch clientdevice is programmed to execute instructions to: render a dispatchconsole UI using a platform-independent component-based UI frameworkcomprising a plurality of panels, render a map panel as one of theplurality of panels using the GPS coordinate data received through atleast one of the vital sign reporting strings and the historical vitalsign string, and render a dynamic chart panel using the vital sign datareceived from the historical vital sign string and the vital signreporting strings of increased frequency, wherein the dynamic chartpanel is rendered using a traced-based UI charting framework, whereinthe vital sign data reflecting the heart rate, the skin moisture level,and the skin temperature of the responder are rendered as separatereal-time traces on the dynamic chart panel.
 11. A computer-implementedmethod for providing dispatch support to responders, comprising:measuring, using a plurality of biometric sensors coupled to awrist-worn electronic device worn about a wrist of the responder, aplurality of vital signs of the responder, wherein the wrist-wornelectronic device comprises a processor, a memory, and a wirelesscommunication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a responderclient device in proximity to the responder; receiving, at the responderclient device, the plurality of vital signs from the wrist-wornelectronic device over a wireless personal area network; receiving, atthe server comprising a server processor, a vital sign reporting stringfrom the responder client device over a secured real-time bidirectionalconnection, wherein the vital sign reporting string comprises vital signdata reflecting an abnormal vital sign of the responder, and wherein theabnormal vital sign is measured by the plurality of biometric sensors;transmitting an alert string generated by the server processor to eachof a plurality of dispatch client devices over a plurality of securedreal-time bidirectional connections, wherein an alert user interface(UI) window is configured to be generated on a display of a dispatchclient device in response to the dispatch client device receiving thealert string; receiving, at the server, a dispatch response string fromone of the plurality of dispatch client devices in response to adispatch user input applied to the alert UI window, wherein the dispatchresponse string is received over one of the plurality of securedreal-time bidirectional connections, and wherein the dispatch clientdevice transmitting the dispatch response string is designated as aresponding dispatch client device; transmitting a vital sign frequencychange string generated by the server processor over the securedreal-time bidirectional connection to the responder client device inorder to increase a frequency of the vital sign reporting stringstransmitted by the responder client device to the server; andtransmitting a historical vital sign string generated by the serverprocessor and a plurality of vital sign reporting strings of increasedfrequency to the responding dispatch client device over the securedreal-time bidirectional connection.
 12. The computer-implemented methodof claim 11, further comprising opening and maintaining at least one ofthe secured real-time bidirectional connections using a real-timetransport framework supporting a WebSocket communication protocol. 13.The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising openingand maintaining at least one of the secured real-time bidirectionalconnections using a Socket.IO JavaScript framework.
 14. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the wrist-wornelectronic device is in the form of a watch.
 15. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the wrist-wornelectronic device is in the form of a bracelet.
 16. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the wrist-wornelectronic device is in the form of a fitness tracker.
 17. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving,at the server, global positioning system (GPS) coordinate data from aGPS locational unit of the responder client device; concatenating, usingthe server processor, the GPS coordinate data to at least one of thevital sign reporting strings and the historical vital sign string;transmitting the vital sign reporting strings and the historical vitalsign string generated by the server processor to the responding dispatchclient device, wherein at least one of the vital sign reporting stringsand the historical vital sign string comprises GPS coordinate data;rendering, using a client processor of the responding dispatch clientdevice, a dispatch console UI using a platform-independentcomponent-based UI framework comprising a plurality of panels;rendering, using the client processor of the responding dispatch clientdevice, a map panel as one of the plurality of panels using the GPScoordinate data received through at least one of the vital signreporting strings and the historical vital sign string; and rendering,using the client processor of the responding dispatch client device, adynamic chart panel using the vital sign data received from thehistorical vital sign string and the vital sign reporting strings ofincreased frequency, wherein the dynamic chart panel is rendered using atraced-based UI charting framework, wherein the vital sign datareflecting the heart rate, the skin moisture level, and the skintemperature of the responder are rendered as separate real-time traceson the dynamic chart panel.
 18. A non-transitory readable mediumcomprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions instruct one or more processors to:receive a vital sign reporting string at a server from a responderclient device over a secured real-time bidirectional connection, whereinthe vital sign reporting string comprises vital sign data reflecting anabnormal vital sign of the responder, and wherein the abnormal vitalsign is measured by a plurality of biometric sensors coupled to awrist-worn electronic device configured to be worn about a wrist of aresponder, wherein the vital sign data reflecting the abnormal vitalsign is received at the responder client device from the wrist-wornelectronic device over a wireless personal area network; transmit analert string from the server to each of a plurality of dispatch clientdevices over each of a plurality of secured real-time bidirectionalconnections, wherein an alert user interface (UI) window is configuredto be generated on a display of each of the dispatch client devices inresponse to the dispatch client device receiving the alert string;receive at the server a dispatch response string from one of theplurality of dispatch client devices in response to a dispatch userinput applied to the alert UI window, wherein the dispatch responsestring is received over one of the plurality of secured real-timebidirectional connections, and wherein the dispatch client devicetransmitting the dispatch response string is designated as a respondingdispatch client device, transmit a vital sign frequency change stringgenerated by the server over the secured real-time bidirectionalconnection to the responder client device in order to increase afrequency of the vital sign reporting strings transmitted by theresponder client device to the server, and transmit a historical vitalsign string generated by the server and a plurality of vital signreporting strings of increased frequency to the responding dispatchclient device over the secured real-time bidirectional connection. 19.The non-transitory readable medium of claim 18, further comprisingcomputer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions instruct the one or more processors toopen and maintain at least one of the secured real-time bidirectionalconnections using a real-time transport framework supporting a WebSocketcommunication protocol.
 20. The non-transitory readable medium of claim19, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon,wherein the computer-executable instructions instruct the one or moreprocessors to open and maintain at least one of the secured real-timebidirectional connections using a Socket.IO JavaScript framework.